A worker from Randy’s Professional Painting sandblasts the F-8H Crusader as part of the refurbishment process for the plane. The workers will also paint and put the decals on the plane before it’s ready for display again. L&T photos/Victoria Calderon

By VICTORIA CALDERON

• Leader & Times

The Mid America Air Museum is refurbishing one of its many display planes, the Chance Vought F-8H Crusader.

The business in charge of refurbishing the F-8H is Randy’s Professional Painting, based out of Turpin, Okla. Workers are sandblasting, painting and replacing the decals on the plane.

The Crusader is a carrier-based fighter used by the U.S. Marine Corps. It was produced between the late 1950s through the ’60s, and it was in continuous service for 12 years, according to information obtained in a flyer at the museum.

“It was the first carrier-based aircraft to break Mach 1 in level flight and boasted a top speed of over 1,000 mph,” the flyer noted. “John Glenn set numerous distance records in an F-8; one such record-setting flight went directly over Liberal.”

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The High Plains Daily Leader and Southwest Daily Times are published Sunday through Friday and reaches homes throughout the Liberal, Kansas retail trade zone. The Leader & Times is the official newspaper of Seward County, USD No. 480, USD No. 483 and the cities of Liberal and Kismet. The Leader & Times is a member of the Liberal Chamber of Commerce, the Kansas Press Association, the National Newspaper Association and the Associated Press.

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